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Pfizer says it will price Covid treatment Paxlovid at nearly $1,400 for a five-day course, which researchers estimate only costs Pfizer $13 to produce. That's a 10,000%+ markup. Shameful. (mastodon.world)

submitted 1 year ago by i_have_no_enemies@lemmy.world to c/technology@lemmy.world

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[–] kambusha@feddit.ch 5 points 1 year ago (2 children)

... forbidden by law to negotiate.

Is that true? Is there a legitimate reason why they shouldn't be able to?

[–] Kecessa@sh.itjust.works 9 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

It's a constitutional thing, government has to guarantee the companies' freedom to set the price they want or something totally moronic like that...

In fact it's the first time the government will be able to negotiate with pharmaceutical companies!

https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/us-judge-refuses-block-medicare-negotiating-drug-prices-2023-09-29/

[–] garden_boi@feddit.de 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

How about updating the constitution to solve this specific problem, which is quite significant for the populace? After all, it's the constitution's job to serve the people.

[–] BloodSlut@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago

That would require a constitutional amendment, which would require being ratified by 38 or more states. Which would require at least 38 states without significant corruption/obstruction, and a population not braindead/brainwashed enough to vote against their own interests.

So the chances of that happening are abysmally low.

[–] TeamAssimilation@infosec.pub 1 points 1 year ago

Because medicine shouldn't become a flea market where you're gambling your health against profit maximization.

Give pharmaceutical companies a fair price scale where they can profit, don't let them hyperinflate prices without justification.

It's not the same if Apple prices their phones at 20,000 USD and you decide you're buying other brand, pharma plays these extortion games after they have captured enough market/regulation so most people have to pay or stay sick.